ANTI-POVERTY WEEK Letter to the Prime Minister, State Premiers and Chief Ministers by the Leaders of Religious Faiths the Leaders of Religious Faiths

Leaders of Faith Communities: President, Uniting Church in Australia President, Catholic Bishops Conference Primate, Anglican Church of Australia President, Federation of Islamic Councils Senior Rabbi, The Great Synagogue Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church President, Baptist Union of Australia President, Lutheran Church of Australia

Call for National Forum for Reduction of Poverty We believe that all Australians are entitled to a decent life, in which they have access to work, education, housing, food and recreation. For a significant number of Australians, however, these basics are not available.

Poverty in Australia Australia has seen one of the sharpest growths in the incidence of poverty Australia now stands fourth on the OECD list of percent of population living in poverty

Risk of Losing National Character Notions such as a “fair go” and “mateship” could become empty We could become two, not one, country, and certainly not a “Commonwealth” We risk becoming a country of “haves” and “have nots”

CALL FOR A NATIONAL FORUM Australia needs a national forum on poverty: 1. To reverse these trends 2. To focus on management of the adverse effects of global development on our country.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY Successful development of such a strategy involves support of many sectors of the community. But the prime responsibility rests with government The Council of Australian Governments may offer a suitable platform

Positive Outcomes are Possible Obstacles to positive outcomes are enormous, but not insurmountable Ireland and the United Kingdom are introducing national strategies to alleviate poverty. Make this wealthy country one in which all Australians can live decently

Jesuit Social Services Research Unequal In Life (1999) analysed locational disadvantage according to postcode. On the invitation of the Victorian and New South Wales government, we are updating and expanding this research analysis Emeritus Professor Tony Vinson is the lead researcher

LOCATIONAL DISADVANTAGE Unequal In Life study (1999) measured the concentration of disadvantage for those living in a particular locality. That study showed how social disadvantage can accumulate and how it is distributed across society. The region of Maitland and Newcastle showed intensive levels of accumulated disadvantage

Latest Research Indicators Measured the proportion of the total incidences of disadvantage contained within postcode areas, for example: 1.Long term unemployment 2.Child abuse or neglect 3.Imprisonment Directs interventions to those areas where problems occur in large numbers

SPATIAL COMPRESSION OF DISADVANTAGE IN N.S.W. Did a small number of postcode areas in N.S.W. account for a large proportion of the instances of disadvantage? Measured by the percentage of postcode areas (total 587) needed to account for 25% and 50% of each form of disadvantage

N.S.W. Postcode Areas CATEGORY To reach 25% To reach 50% Unemployment Long-term unemployment Low Income Less skilled Workers Disability/SickBenefits

N.S.W. Postcode Areas (2) CATEGORY To reach 25% To reach 50% Year 12 incompleted Criminal offences Imprisonment Low Birth Weight

N.S.W. Postcode Areas (3) CATEGORY To reach 25% To reach 50% Early School Leaving Child Abuse Child Injuries Psychiatric Hosp Admissn

N.S.W. Postcode areas with high concentrations of disadvantage 2166CabramattaUnempl/Prison/Abuse 2170LiverpoolUnempl/Prison/Abuse 2259CharmhavenUnempl/Prison/Abuse 2450Coff’s HarbourUnempl/Prison/Abuse 2480LismoreUnempl/Prison/Abuse 2560AirdsUnempl/Prison/Abuse 2650Wagga WaggaUnempl/Prison/Abuse 2770 Mt DruittUnempl/Prison/Abuse

N.S.W. Postcodes (2) 2566MintoPrison/Child Abuse 2830DubboPrison/Child Abuse 2800OrangePrison/Child Abuse 2430HarringtonUnempl/Prison 2440KempseyUnempl/Prison 2200HurstvilleUnempl/Prison 2261The EntranceUnempl/Child Abuse 2168GreenvalleyUnempl/Prison 2165FairfieldUnempl/Child Abuse

Concentration of Disadvantage These 17 N.S.W. postcodes provided precisely two-thirds of the 63 localities needed to account for 25% of the instances of imprisonment, long- term unemployment and child abuse. Eight postcode areas provided well over one- third (38.1%) of the 63 areas required. These areas represent the “black holes” of poverty and disadvantage in N.S.W. which must be addressed now to avoid serious social consequences for the whole community.